The Week in Review

Research Study By Jewel D. Williams
Titled: The Life of a Healthy Church
Written: 2006

How we lead as a church results in what we really look like to the world at large. What a church looks like to a visitor speaks more than we think it does. What the building looks like, tells those that come, how important it is to the congregation. If it has chipping paint, bad bathrooms or poor sound systems, visitors will not come away with a good impression of who we are. Yet, this is not a new idea to keep God’s house in good working order.

“Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD’S house should be built. Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying, Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste? Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink; but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes” (Haggai 1:2-6).

The author points out that for any changes to happen, they must come from leadership first. It puts a big responsibility on leadership, but it will not take root unless leadership is one hundred percent for the process.
One of the principles given by this writer states “Let’s practice what we preach and put thorns in our laurels” (36). In this principle the authors point out that we tend to rest on our laurels – accomplishments of the past. “By putting thorns in our laurels, we learn not to rest on them. Just because a church has been effective in the past doesn’t mean it will be that way in the present or future” (36). The authors also state, “Talk, talk, talk. It’s easy. It’s cheap. It sometimes fools us into thinking we’ve done what we talk about. It keeps us busy, so busy that we have no time to implement what we’ve discussed” (44).

Another principle that our church needs to look at is principle number six. It states, “Invest the time and money to teach, train and retrain people to develop their skills and to implement quality ministry methods” (40). We tend to take people because they are willing and put them into positions of leadership or responsibility without preparing them for success. We tend to believe the Holy Spirit will help them. While this is true to a point, we are still required to learn how to do the job well. It is the responsibility of those in leadership, for example, to ensure their teachers are equipped to teach. “Churches seem so quick to put people into ministry roles with little or no training, and then we wonder why people aren’t more effective” (40). Scripture addresses this well when it states, “Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil” (1 Timothy 3:6).

Principle nine states, “Build a team mind-set to avoid departmental barriers” (61). “The goal is to get us thinking and acting like a single team instead of many little teams” (61). Another difficulty we have is some are only concerned about their auxiliary and that can lead to conflict. “Inflexibility is one of the worst human failings” (101).
There are reasons that a leader may be enticed to base their ministry on selfish pursuits. These pursuits, however, will only lead to failure. For a biblically based foundation, the first place that one must begin is in the word of God. “It demands that we begin with God and the Bible rather than man and culture in order to understand God’s will in ministry” (Mayhue, 11). God’s word tells us “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). To have a successful ministry, one must look to God to understand his or her purpose, and depend totally on God for the strength to carry out the mission.

In the book, Natural Church Development by author Christian A. Schwarz, he lists several characteristics that are needed to produce a healthy church. He lists as the eight characteristic needed to grow a healthy church as, empowering leadership, gift-based ministry, passionate spirituality, effective structures, inspiring worship service, holistic small groups, need-oriented evangelism and loving relationships.

To understand how important these things are, we first look at what statistics show us is important to individuals as they are looking for a church home. The first was the pastor/preaching at 90%, the second was doctrines at 88%, friendliness of members at 49% and after some other listings he states sensed God’s presence/atmosphere of Church at 37% (21). These statistics show us what we need to do to become more effective in what we do. Let’s look at some of the characteristics.

Cited work / source documents

Boa, Kenneth, Th.M.; Ph.D. Leadership Development. 2005. 4 April 2006. http://www.Bible.org.

Church Growth and Health: Church Growth Principles. 2007. 25 January 2007. http://Webct.macu.edu

Gildea, Spike, Ph.D., et al. The American Heritage College Dictionary. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002.

Keathley III, J. Hampton. Marks of Maturity: Biblical Characteristics of a Christian Leader. 2005. 28 March 2006. http://www.Bible.org.

Longman, Jr., Robert. Spiritual Disciplines and practices. 2005. 28 March 2006. http://www.spirithome.com/spirdisc.html.

MacArthur, John, et. al. Pastoral Ministry: How to Shepherd Biblically. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc. 2005.

MacArthur, John F., Dr. The Call to Church Leadership. 1986. 4 April 2006. http://www.biblebb.com.

McGavran, Donald A. Understanding Church Growth. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1970.

Piper, John. The Marks of a Spiritual Leader. 2006. 28 March 2006. http://www.desiringgod.org/library/topics/leadership/marks_spiritual_leader.html.
Rainer, Thom S. Surprising Insights From The Unchurched. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2001.

Regele, Mike. Death of The Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995.

Rheenen, Gailyn Van. Biblical Foundations & Contemporary Strategies: Missions. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996.

Schwarz, Christian A. Natural Church Development. St. Charles, IL: ChurchSmart Resources, 1996.

Simpson, Sandy. The Duties of Christian Leadership. January 11, 2005. 28 March 2006.

http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/dutiesofchristianleadership.html.

Stowell, Joseph M. Shepherding the Church. Chicago, IL: Moody Press. 1997.

Toler, Stan And Nelson, Alan. The Five Star Church. Ventura, CA: Regal Books. 1999.

Thompson, Frank Charles, D.D., PH.D. The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible, 5th ed. Indianapolis, IN: B. B. Kirkbridge Bible Co., Inc., 1988.

The Week in Review

Theme: Women charged by the Spirit
Preached Metropolitan Church of God
Detroit, MI, 2007

This is the final piece of the message:

If you Love Me
I knelt to pray today and to tell God of my love.
When I finished, God’s voice spoke to me from above.
Yes my Lord, here I am, allow me to see.
You are not finished, is his words to me.
But Lord, I exclaimed in despair,
I have asked for all, so what more is there?
Where is the evidence that you love me today?
Your sister with the small child, for her, did you pray?
Have you prayed for me to watch over her day?
Have you prayed that I direct her way?
I bowed my head, No Lord.
Have you offered her a meal, she’s too tired to cook her own?
Have you encouraged her, she’s feeling overwhelmed and alone?
Have you prayed for the woman whose marriage is in an uproar?
Have you prayed because she is ready to give up and say No More?
I bowed my head, No Lord.
Have you shared your life with the sister who feels she’s not known
Have you hugged and prayed with her, so love is shown?
God asked me, how do you prove your love for my way?
I began to weep over how much I had wandered away.
I bowed my head, I could only answer, No Lord.
I repented of my sins, when I returned to my knees.
My position, Lord I will no longer leave.
Forgive me for not encouraging and equipping others,
I replace my armor and stand in the battle next to my sisters and my brothers.
I will not pass my armor to another, I take my place in the army of the most-high God.
So as I rose to my feet I said,God I love you, but now I go to the battle to show you.

Words of Encouragement

They were preparing for what seemed like the end, the setting of the "Son". He has given his blood for the offering for man's sin. Yet this is not the end, it is only the beginning. The "Son" would soon rise! Have you allowed the "Son" the rise in your life?

No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them." Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, "Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?" - John 7:49-51

Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. - John 19:38-40

Nicodemus. From Night to Light. The first scripture is during the time the Pharisees were seeking to get Jesus and we see Nicodemus step forward and defend Jesus by asking the question of doesn't he get a chance to speak for himself.

In the last scripture we see Nicodemus stepping up with one of the disciples of Jesus (who had not been one openly for fear) to seek his body to prepare it for burial. This same Nicodemus that had come to Jesus under the cloak and veil of night comes opening to seek Jesus. He comes this time not to ask questions but to give unto Jesus.

He comes this time bringing gifts. He comes bringing a gift of myrrh just as the wise men had done at the birth of Jesus. This time it is for the burial of Jesus. He comes to service Jesus out of his own wealth.

The scripture does not tell us that Nicodemus had become a follower of Jesus, yet we can see that something about his late night talk with Jesus changed something in him. He had not rejected Jesus. He defended him in front of the chief priest when before he didn't even want any of them to know he was seeking Jesus. He had become a secret friend to Jesus, even if he had not become a constant follower.

He comes openly to ask for Jesus' body to prepare him, when Jesus' own close disciples that walked with him were no where to be seen because of the fear of what may happen to those that followed. These two that were afraid to be known to have relationship with Jesus in life, became those willing to be associated with him in his death.

It would seem to me that something did indeed change in Nicodemus. He went from the fear of what others would think to being bold in his stand. He went from the night to the light. He went from an encounter with Jesus to serving him. He served Jesus in this capacity, that he was willing to come and prepare his body for burial.

What then can we learn from Nicodemus? It becomes an encouragement to know that words spoken to individuals about being born again are not always falling on deaf ears. Sometimes individuals can walk away and it would seem that is the end of the story. Yet, God has not finished the work on them. He is working something out in that individual. They may have come asking questions in the night and God is working to bring them to the light.

While they may not have been willing to show relationship with Jesus openly, there is coming a time when they will be bold in their commitment to his death. The will come and boldly serve him from all that they have.

Again, while we do not have that a conversion happened in Nicodemus, we can see that a work was going on. It is also an encouragement to us not to give up on people.

God has his way of working out the process that sometimes take time. It is our responsibility to keep praying that God's words he speaks to them in the "night", in their hidden states would grow and come to full growth. When one day they can step into the light, into the Light of Christ.

I pray for us today. Lord, you are worth all our praise and worship. Lord thank you for taking the time to teach us and to reach out to us in our darkened state. It was not our own doing but you reaching to us that we too were changed. When we go to worship this week, help us to be an example of Jesus for someone seeking you.

Words of Encouragement

When a student goes to school to learn, they do not already know all the information in the text. Some of it they may know but they do not know it all. At they study, practice and meditate on the information, understanding comes. It is the same with the word of God. We do not know it all, but as we study what is in the text we can began to understand it with practice, meditation and the help of the Holy Spirit.

I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. John 3:11-21





Nicodemus. The Truth of God. We left off yesterday with Nicodemus still not understanding the message Jesus was trying to give. We have here Jesus telling Nicodemus what one must do to be born again.



He uses an example that Nicodemus would understand. Nicodemus would have heard about and learned about what Moses did with the snake in the wilderness. That when the people looked upon the snake after they had been bitten by one, they would be healed. Jesus uses this example to express to Nicodemus a spiritual truth through a earthly example. That truth is that when the sting of sin is upon your life you will not live until you look up to the one that can remove the poison of that sin and that is Jesus. Jesus is the way to the Father and the redeemer of man.



Even though Jesus tells Nicodemus that you do not understand, he tells him this truth anyway. Why do you think Jesus did that? I believe it is Jesus showing us to sow seeds even if the ground may not seem ready to receive it. We have no way of knowing what God will do to the soil to prepare it.



We do not see from this scripture how Nicodemus received this seed. I wondered about whatever happened to Nicodemus after this and if you don't know you'll be surprised that he did not just drop off the scene. We'll look at what happened to him tomorrow.



But for today, let us rejoice in the fact that Jesus will give us his truth, even if we are not ready or able to comprehend it all right now. He gives it to us because he wants all to have the opportunity to hear the truth and to be able to make a choice on what they will do. Because of this, no man can say that God has been unfair in his dealings with them, for God is just. For God will make sure that every man hears and what we hear, we are held accountable to.



Lord help us to not only hear your truth today, but help us to understand it, and accept it. Help us not to simply walk away from it.

Words of Encouragement

When you look at this picture you "see" the water, but you cannot see the wind. The evidence of the wind is the kite that is blowing over the water. Lord help us to "see" the evidence of your Spirit at all times.

Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked. "You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? - John 3:6-10



Nicodemus. By God's Spirit. Nicodemus could not understand what it was that Jesus was speaking when we left yesterdays scripture. In today's lesson, Jesus continues to teach Nicodemus.



Here, Jesus teaches of the two types of birth. The first, the natural birth many understand when a mother gives birth to a child. That is flesh bringing forth flesh. The second, the spiritual birth, many do not understand that is why Nicodemus was confused.



The spiritual birth is done through the spirit bringing forth a new "child" in what was once only a fleshly one. Jesus goes on to say that the wind blows where it pleases. You know it is there because you can hear it but you cannot see it. You have evidence that it exist but you cannot see it.



It is the same with the Spirit of God. He is there even if you cannot see him. The evidence of his presence is the change he makes in the lives of people. The evidence of his presence is seen by the fruit of the Spirit. (But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, - Galatians 5:22).



This is how one is born again, by the Spirit of God. He calls all to whomever the Lord sends him to call for and he changes whomever the Lord instructs. It is not done because of good works, right attitudes or good living, it is all by the power of God through his Spirit.



Nicodemus still could not grasp this understand and says so. Jesus' response to him is, you are a teacher in Israel and you do not understand. We have to understand Nicodemus represents many today. There are those that have great acclaim yet do not understand it is not in their status, or their own power that they are able to understand the kingdom of God.



Yes, God can use all those things to his glory, but they are not the source of our understanding about God. It is plan and simply it is by His Spirit and His Spirit alone.



I pray for us today and rejoice that Jesus took time to explain this mystery to Nicodemus so that you and I could also understand. God thank you for teaching us and giving us the opportunity to know the truth. May we gain the wisdom of God as we release ourselves into your capable hand.



NOTE: Look at yesterdays blog just below to see my tribute to my daughter who will be soon departing for school.

The Amazing Grace of God

This is my Joselyn. I wanted to say I am thankful to God for his wonderful gift to my husband and I. Our oldest is about to go off to college and I wanted to send her off with love. This song is special, because it is the one I sang almost every night before my girls went to sleep.

Words of Encouragement

Can this abandoned land restore itself? Can it begin to produce new life without any help? No. Someone has to come and pull out the stones, the hard areas. Some one has to come and turnover the soil and plant the right seeds after they weeds are removed and then it has to be tended to. This is the same with us. We cannot restore ourselves without the help of someone else. That help comes from the Lord. His power will remove the stony heart and turnover the soil so the right seed can be planted. Then he will give us his Spirit who comes to tend the garden to let us know when weeds try to get in so they can be removed.

In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. - John 3:3-5

Nicodemus. Can I be Born Again When I am Old? Jesus continues speaking to Nicodemus regarding his statement that Jesus is a good teacher. Jesus tells Nicodemus that in order to see the Kingdom of God, he has to be born again.

Nicodemus does not understand what Jesus is talking about. His question of how can I be born again when I am old? How can I go back into the womb? This must seem such a strange thing for Nicodemus to understand. He is looking at this statement from natural eyesight.

Jesus' response to Nicodemus' question is he explains it again with more information. He tells him that to see the Kingdom of God one must be born of water (cleansing) and Spirit (indwelling and sanctifying).

Do you think Nicodemus truly understands yet? Even though Nicodemus is a Pharisee and therefore verse in the Law he still does not understand the mysteries of God.

Isn't that us sometimes? We sometimes become verse in our traditions, our customs, the rules that we govern ourselves with, but stop short of understanding the mysteries of the Kingdom of God.

This is because in order to truly understand God's Kingdom we must be one with the Master. His Spirit is what helps us to understand all truth. His purpose is to guide us into all truth. We miss the great understanding of the mysteries just as Nicodemus did.

We forget the simply truth that we must be born again in order to understand the path of God. It is not our works, our standing, our abilities or gifts that give us understanding and wisdom about God. I am about to begin working on my Masters of Religious Education in a few weeks but I tell you this truth, it is not my education that helps me understand the Kingdom of God. As soon as I begin to think it is, I'll be off the mark. What helps me to understand (which is the same for all of us) is my relationship with the Father through the Son.

God's Spirit has been the one guiding me in all truth even though my path took me going to school. Others may never step into the doors of a college or seminary but they can still understand the mysteries of God, because it is by His Spirit.

Today, my prayer for us is that we seek God to know what we must do or what might be standing in our own ways from us understanding the mysteries of the Kingdom. Lord help us, because even though Nicodemus didn't understand, he did not stop questioning. Help us continue to seek you for those things we do not understand so that you can give us the wisdom we need.